The benefits of athletics/Penguins Game 7
*I was not an athlete growing up. I was not blessed with any natural athletic ability. In hockey terms, I was a mucker and a grinder. I had to work at any sport I participated in. Nothing came easy. Maybe that’s how I have been able to handle all of the adversity thus far in my life. However, since I knew I wasn’t blessed with the ability to take my game to the next level, I accepted what I couldn’t do and just had fun (are you listening, parents?).
But, my friends and I, we did it all. Football, baseball, slow pitch softball, basketball, hockey, stickball, wiffle ball, kickball, soccer, golf, bowling, Frisbee, volleyball, It tag, etc. You name it, we did it. We were always busy. I always held my own, in some sports better than others. Mind you, I have been tall for a long time, so my coordination was better for some sports than others.
I scored many more points in my driveway playing one and one and two on two than I did for my high school basketball team. But I learned how to play the game on my own and with my friends. When we weren’t playing games outside, I was watching sports on TV (remember, three channels and only one TV for a long time until we had another one put in our kitchen). So I learned about sports by both playing and watching.
Once again, please allow me to state that I knew I was never going to play a lot of sports in high school, although I do regret never having played football. At best, I would have been a possession receiver on offense and maybe a linebacker or safety on defense. However, I have made up for that by becoming the PA announcer at the school where I work, announcing our home games.
Since I knew I was not going to be an athlete, that took all the pressure off me having to worry about performing for a college scout. I could just go out and have fun and not worry about anything else. My parents never pushed me into anything, although my dad wanted me to play football, and I did play midget football but, being an awkward kid, I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. I was ready for it in high school. But, I didn’t go out. Well, you can’t change the past.
Since my interest in sports is so great, and I watch them almost consistently, I believe my foundation was laid back in those days of playing games and sports with my friends. I learned about teamwork, dealing with adversity, and determination to get the job done and win a game, regardless of what it was. Sports teach so many of life’s lessons, regardless of what the naysayers may think, or say.
I didn’t have all the patience in the world while growing up, but sports helped to teach me about being patient. They also taught me about keeping busy and productive, to not let the grass grow under my feet; unlike today’s kids (at least many of them) who would rather play video games or play on their computers or work/play on their cell phones. I am not knocking today’s technology. The world changes everyday. But what I am knocking are the pathetic excuses I hear about why our kids are having health and obesity problems.
Yes, I know, I have covered this before. But it bears repeating. I wasn’t allowed to sit in front of the TV all day while my friends were outside playing. The only exception was when it was raining. Even when it snowed, we were outside tubing, sled riding, and tobogganing. We also played ice hockey in the snow in the street. I do not see this anymore. I have to wonder why. All those things I learned in the past have served me well today. An entire generation may go without all those experiences. I look back and I have never regretted, not once, all those great times. I would like to relive them just one more time. That would be a great way to go out in style when my time comes.
*As of press time, the Penguins and the Canadiens were knotted at three games apiece with the seventh and deciding game being played on home ice at Mellon Arena Wednesday night in their Eastern Conference semi-final. The average fan was probably nervous as all get out that their beloved Pens are playing in game seven. Do we recall what happened last year? A game seven as played in Washington against the Capitals and no one showed up. It was a 5 – 1 game before the Capitals knew what hit them. The Pens moved onto the conference finals.
Game seven in the Stanley Cup Final was played in Detroit. No one, except maybe the locals, expected the Pens to win. Well, on the strength of two Max Talbot goals, the Pens ended up with the Stanley Cup, the third in the history of the franchise. So I had no reservations about this series going to seven games, despite what some of the so called “experts” may have thought. This is playoff hockey and each team has an equal shot of winning the Cup.
Bear in mind that the top three seeds, all division winners in the regular season, were eliminated. Washington, the prohibitive Cup favorite, New Jersey, and Buffalo were all ousted. The Pens were the remaining highest seed, at fourth, with home ice advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Add to that the relative youth of this team with all of the experience they now have. The fourth trip to the playoffs, two consecutive trips to the Final, winning the Cup last summer, and now a threat to get there again. Above all else, they have the finest player in the game in Sidney Crosby. He does all of the little things expected of a leader at the highest level of hockey. Everyone wants to slobber all over themselves regarding the hot dog that is Alex Ovechkin when all he has won are scoring titles and MVP awards. Where are the Stanley Cups and the Olympic gold medal, Alex?
All Crosby wants to do is win. The rest will take care of itself. I’m sure Crosby would rather have half a dozen Cups on his resume than MVP awards. Your name goes on the Cup forever and you are remembered for the championships you won during your career, not awards. But some pundits out there would rather talk up the highlight reel goals Ovechkin scores rather than the lack of accomplishments he has garnered. Who cares?
It says here that Crosby had something to say regarding that game seven played at Mellon Arena Wednesday night at the Igloo. It also says here that he had at least one goal and multiple assists; and the Pens physically put the Habs in the seats and played their most physical game to date. The old Under Armour commercial had a slogan that went “We must protect this house!” Well, it says here that, under the guidance and leadership of one Sidney Crosby, the Pens more than protected their house, their “turf” and did away with the Canadiens in game seven to advance to the conference finals for the third straight year to meet the winner of Boston/Philadelphia.
One more caveat. Marc-Andre Fleury has received his share of criticism for allowing some soft goals. I have been among those critics, but I wouldn’t want anyone in my net for a big game than Flower. He did backstop the Pens to the Cup last year. When he is on his game, he is unstoppable. Evgeni Malkin will have also had a monster game, as he is this close to breaking out during this playoff run. Pens 5, Canadiens 1.
But, my friends and I, we did it all. Football, baseball, slow pitch softball, basketball, hockey, stickball, wiffle ball, kickball, soccer, golf, bowling, Frisbee, volleyball, It tag, etc. You name it, we did it. We were always busy. I always held my own, in some sports better than others. Mind you, I have been tall for a long time, so my coordination was better for some sports than others.
I scored many more points in my driveway playing one and one and two on two than I did for my high school basketball team. But I learned how to play the game on my own and with my friends. When we weren’t playing games outside, I was watching sports on TV (remember, three channels and only one TV for a long time until we had another one put in our kitchen). So I learned about sports by both playing and watching.
Once again, please allow me to state that I knew I was never going to play a lot of sports in high school, although I do regret never having played football. At best, I would have been a possession receiver on offense and maybe a linebacker or safety on defense. However, I have made up for that by becoming the PA announcer at the school where I work, announcing our home games.
Since I knew I was not going to be an athlete, that took all the pressure off me having to worry about performing for a college scout. I could just go out and have fun and not worry about anything else. My parents never pushed me into anything, although my dad wanted me to play football, and I did play midget football but, being an awkward kid, I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. I was ready for it in high school. But, I didn’t go out. Well, you can’t change the past.
Since my interest in sports is so great, and I watch them almost consistently, I believe my foundation was laid back in those days of playing games and sports with my friends. I learned about teamwork, dealing with adversity, and determination to get the job done and win a game, regardless of what it was. Sports teach so many of life’s lessons, regardless of what the naysayers may think, or say.
I didn’t have all the patience in the world while growing up, but sports helped to teach me about being patient. They also taught me about keeping busy and productive, to not let the grass grow under my feet; unlike today’s kids (at least many of them) who would rather play video games or play on their computers or work/play on their cell phones. I am not knocking today’s technology. The world changes everyday. But what I am knocking are the pathetic excuses I hear about why our kids are having health and obesity problems.
Yes, I know, I have covered this before. But it bears repeating. I wasn’t allowed to sit in front of the TV all day while my friends were outside playing. The only exception was when it was raining. Even when it snowed, we were outside tubing, sled riding, and tobogganing. We also played ice hockey in the snow in the street. I do not see this anymore. I have to wonder why. All those things I learned in the past have served me well today. An entire generation may go without all those experiences. I look back and I have never regretted, not once, all those great times. I would like to relive them just one more time. That would be a great way to go out in style when my time comes.
*As of press time, the Penguins and the Canadiens were knotted at three games apiece with the seventh and deciding game being played on home ice at Mellon Arena Wednesday night in their Eastern Conference semi-final. The average fan was probably nervous as all get out that their beloved Pens are playing in game seven. Do we recall what happened last year? A game seven as played in Washington against the Capitals and no one showed up. It was a 5 – 1 game before the Capitals knew what hit them. The Pens moved onto the conference finals.
Game seven in the Stanley Cup Final was played in Detroit. No one, except maybe the locals, expected the Pens to win. Well, on the strength of two Max Talbot goals, the Pens ended up with the Stanley Cup, the third in the history of the franchise. So I had no reservations about this series going to seven games, despite what some of the so called “experts” may have thought. This is playoff hockey and each team has an equal shot of winning the Cup.
Bear in mind that the top three seeds, all division winners in the regular season, were eliminated. Washington, the prohibitive Cup favorite, New Jersey, and Buffalo were all ousted. The Pens were the remaining highest seed, at fourth, with home ice advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Add to that the relative youth of this team with all of the experience they now have. The fourth trip to the playoffs, two consecutive trips to the Final, winning the Cup last summer, and now a threat to get there again. Above all else, they have the finest player in the game in Sidney Crosby. He does all of the little things expected of a leader at the highest level of hockey. Everyone wants to slobber all over themselves regarding the hot dog that is Alex Ovechkin when all he has won are scoring titles and MVP awards. Where are the Stanley Cups and the Olympic gold medal, Alex?
All Crosby wants to do is win. The rest will take care of itself. I’m sure Crosby would rather have half a dozen Cups on his resume than MVP awards. Your name goes on the Cup forever and you are remembered for the championships you won during your career, not awards. But some pundits out there would rather talk up the highlight reel goals Ovechkin scores rather than the lack of accomplishments he has garnered. Who cares?
It says here that Crosby had something to say regarding that game seven played at Mellon Arena Wednesday night at the Igloo. It also says here that he had at least one goal and multiple assists; and the Pens physically put the Habs in the seats and played their most physical game to date. The old Under Armour commercial had a slogan that went “We must protect this house!” Well, it says here that, under the guidance and leadership of one Sidney Crosby, the Pens more than protected their house, their “turf” and did away with the Canadiens in game seven to advance to the conference finals for the third straight year to meet the winner of Boston/Philadelphia.
One more caveat. Marc-Andre Fleury has received his share of criticism for allowing some soft goals. I have been among those critics, but I wouldn’t want anyone in my net for a big game than Flower. He did backstop the Pens to the Cup last year. When he is on his game, he is unstoppable. Evgeni Malkin will have also had a monster game, as he is this close to breaking out during this playoff run. Pens 5, Canadiens 1.
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